Article
Culture and arts education: a pillar of the Transcultura programme
On 25 May 2023, the UNESCO programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, funded by the European Union, organized the panel discussion ‘Strengthening the capacities of young cultural professionals through cooperation in the Caribbean’, in the framework of the UNESCO Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Culture and Arts Education, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, from 25 to 26 May.
Moderated by Alessandra Borchi, Coordinator of the Transcultura Programme, the panel brought together Yahima Esquivel, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Cuba to UNESCO; Radu Butum, Deputy Permanent Delegate of the European Union Delegation to UNESCO; Rasheed Palacio, filmmaker from Belize and participant of one of the online courses offered by the International Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños in Cuba as part of the training activities of the Transcultura programme; and Rebecca Ross, film producer and professor of one of the courses offered by the Caribbean Cultural Training Hub established in the context of the Transcultura programme, who participated in the panel through a video.
The panelists reflected on the role of culture and arts education in creating opportunities for young people in the cultural and creative industries. They also highlighted the potential of the Caribbean region and the benefits of intra- and inter-regional cooperation to enhance the skills of cultural professionals.
With its crosscutting approach, including Culture and Arts Education, the Transcultura programme showcases what culture actually is. It is about intercultural dialogue, tourism, education, heritage, creative industries, digitalization… In short, culture is an opportunity to improve people’s livelihoods.
In this regard, they referred to the main achievements of the Caribbean Cultural Training Hub, promoted by the Transcultura programme, which offers specialized education in subjects related to cultural and creative industries and entrepreneurship in three languages. The Hub brings together seven prestigious educational institutions, six from Cuba and one from the Caribbean: the University of the Arts, the International Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños, the Higher Institute of Design, the San Gerónimo College of Havana, the "Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos" Workshop School, the Santa Clara College for Training in the Arts and Restoration Trades of Cuba and the Caribbean, and the University of the West Indies.
To date, Hub institutions have trained 448 cultural professionals aged between 18 and 35 from the 17 countries of Transcultura's geographic scope. In October 2023, 132 new scholarships will be granted to participate in face-to-face training courses in Havana, Cuba, on topics related to music, design, crafts and heritage trades.
In Cuba, Transcultura has enabled us to develop an integrated management approach to culture and arts education, not only in terms of building creative skills, but to empower every young person to contribute to the sustainable development of his/her country.
Panelists also referred to online and distance learning as a tool to reach more young people, in a region where geographical mobility is one of the main challenges. In addition, they underlined the benefits of sharing learning space with colleagues from other countries, not only for mutual cultural enrichment, but also with a view to expanding professional networks in the region.
For me Transcultura was the building blocks that helped me to get a scholarship to do my master’s in filmmaking in Europe. Even though it was happening online over a couple of weeks, it provided the type of mentorship you need to thrive in the professional space.
Held as a side event of the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Cultural and Arts Education, the panel was attended by representatives of Permanent Delegations to UNESCO, UNESCO education institutes and networks, as well as practitioners and members of civil society. The Transcultura programme is a 4-year initiative aimed at young cultural professionals, artists and entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 from 17 Caribbean countries, to strengthen their skills and capacities, as well as to create opportunities for their future, across the region and in Europe.
